Financial Aid

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The Office of Student Financial Services administers a variety of Federal, State and University aid programs to help University of Maine students finance their education. Office staff award, process, and disburse financial aid for University of Maine students, and advise students and their families, the campus community, and the general public on issues related to financial aid. Financial Aid Advisors are available on a walk-in basis in Wingate Hall, as well as by appointment between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday, through Friday.

For assistance with the application process, status updates, or answers to other questions about financial aid, visit umaine/edu/sfs, or contact the office via phone at (207) 581-1324 or via e-mail at um.sfs@maine.edu. Documents concerning financial aid should be submitted online via Secure Upload or mailed to the Office of Student Financial Services, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5781.

Financial Aid Programs

Some of the financial aid programs available to undergraduates pursuing their first bachelor’s degree include:

Federal Pell Grants - Awarded based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program; these grants do not have to be repaid.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants - Awarded based on federal need from the FAFSA to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program at least half-time; these grants do not have to be repaid.

Institutional Grants - Awarded based on federal need from the FAFSA to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program at least half time; these grants do not have to be repaid.

Scholarships - Awarded to eligible students based on merit/talent and/or need as defined by the eligibility criteria for each scholarship; these awards do not have to be repaid. The Admissions Office awards scholarships to new first-year and transfer undergraduate students based on academic performance. For specific eligibility for Merit Scholarships, visit the Office of Admissions website at go.umaine.edu/apply/scholarships. Students are required to meet GPA requirements in order to retain merit scholarship eligibility. Students who do not meet these requirements will receive a notification via their MaineStreet Message Center that will explain the appeals process. Questions about merit scholarship policies should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services.

Federal Work-Study - Awarded based on federal need from the FAFSA to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program at least half-time; offers students the opportunity to earn spending money and/or living expenses while gaining valuable work experience. Job listings are available on CareerLink through the Office of Student Employment.

Federal Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) - Available through the U.S. Department of Education to eligible undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a degree program at least half-time who have applied for federal financial aid, up to the maximum allowable amount of loan based on grade level (see chart in section entitled “Grade Level”). First-time borrowers of a Federal Direct Loan must complete Entrance Counseling and a Loan Agreement/Master Promissory Note (MPN) before the loan proceeds will be released. The Entrance Counseling and Loan Agreement are completed electronically at studentaid.gov.

NOTE: Subsidized loans are need-based loans and the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled at least half-time and during other authorized periods called deferments; federal regulations specify annual loan limits based on grade level; actual eligibility may be less than the annual maximum depending upon enrollment level and the amount of all other educationally-related assistance, if any; repayment of principal is deferred for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans while enrolled at least half-time; interest rates are fixed and are set each academic year and are available on the Office of Student Financial Services website, the interest begins to accrue or can be paid by the student once the student enters into the six-month grace period; any break in continuous enrollment, such as a leave of absence, will result in the student entering into the six-month grace period, and repayment could begin before the student re-enrolls in a degree program at least half-time.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

To be eligible for most types of Federal, State and University financial aid, each student must:

be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
have earned a high school diploma or GED
be offered admission to a University of Maine degree program
not be in default on a previous federal educational loan program
continue to be in good academic standing
continue to make satisfactory progress toward a degree (see Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients)

Most types of financial aid require at least half-time enrollment (6 credits or more undergraduate credits, or 3 or more graduate credits) each semester. Financial aid is awarded based upon actual credit load each semester, regardless of official University status. Each student’s enrollment level (see chart in section entitled “Enrollment Level”) is verified at the end of the Add/Drop period each semester; financial aid eligibility is recalculated and offers are adjusted if necessary. The student is notified by email if the financial aid offer changes.

Federal, state and university financial aid programs are not available for non-degree enrollment. Some lending institutions offer loan programs to students who are currently taking classes in non-degree programs. Further information is available upon request.

Limits on Financial Aid Eligibility

Most University of Maine students remain eligible for financial aid until they have completed their first bachelor’s degree. However, eligibility is impacted by academic performance. To maintain eligibility for financial aid, each student must make progress toward a degree according to the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy: Students are measured once a year for Grade Point Average (GPA), completion of attempted credits and length of time it takes to complete their degree. See the section entitled “Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients” for more information on this policy.

Federal regulations limit financial aid funds to paying for one repetition only of a previously passed course even if a higher grade is still needed to advance in the academic program or is required for a subsequent course.

The Federal Pell Grant program includes a limit on how much Pell Grant students are eligible to receive. Students may receive a maximum of 12 semesters (or 600%) of Federal Pell Grant eligibility during their undergraduate career.

The Federal Direct Loan program places limits on the total amount that can be borrowed by any student, called “aggregate” limits. These limits are specified by Federal Student Aid on their website https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized

Applying for Financial Aid

To allow the Office of Student Financial Services to determine the amount and types of assistance each student is eligible to receive, students are required to apply for financial aid. The University of Maine requires only one financial aid application: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must apply for financial aid each year.

The FAFSA may be completed online at fafsa.gov. For prior year applicants, some information will be pre-populated from a prior year’s application by using their FSA ID. Both the student and any Contributors (parents or spouse, if applicable) must provide consent to disclose Federal Tax Information (FTI) and electronically sign the FAFSA in order for the FAFSA to be processed.

Certain types of financial aid, including institutional grants, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Work-Study are limited. Consequently, even students who are otherwise eligible will not initially be considered for these funds unless they meet our “priority FAFSA filing” deadline of March 1. To meet our “priority filing” deadline, the student’s FAFSA must be received at the federal processing center by the March 1 deadline prior to the start of the Fall Semester for which the student wishes to receive financial assistance. Students selected for federal verification by the Department of Education must provide information that verifies the data provided on the FAFSA. This information could include, but is not limited to, using the IRS Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX), or providing an official tax return, your parent’s official tax return, or independent or dependent verification forms.

Requests for information will be through your MaineStreet To Do List and will include detailed instructions, links to specific forms, and deadlines. Financial aid is still available for applicants who apply after the deadline, but may be limited.

After submitting the FAFSA, the student will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary. Students are responsible for making any necessary corrections immediately, or contacting the University of Maine Office of Student Financial Services for assistance. As long as the University of Maine (school code 002053) is listed on the SAR in the school section, the Office of Student Financial Services will receive the application data within 3-5 business days. The application will be reviewed and the student will be notified if any additional information is required.

Once the student’s file is complete, an offer of financial aid will be made available to the student. The student should accept (or decline) offered loans and follow all instructions to ensure continued processing and disbursement of funds to the student’s account.

Grade Level

The following definitions are used to determine grade level when awarding financial aid and when certifying student loan eligibility.

Degree Credits Earned So Far	Grade Level	Maximum Subsidized Loan per Year	Maximum Loan Per Year (combined subsidized and unsubsidized)
Less than 24	First-year	$3,500	$5,500
24 - 53	Sophomore	$4,500	$6,500
54 - 83	Junior	$5,500	$7,500
84 or more	Senior	$5,500	$7,500

NOTE: Federal regulations limit students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree to receive only Federal Direct Loans.

Enrollment Level

The following definitions are used to describe a student’s enrollment level when awarding financial aid and when certifying student loan eligibility.

Credits Per Semester	Enrollment Level
12 or more	Full-time
9-11	Three-quarter-time
6-8	Half-time
1-5	Less than half-time

NOTE: Students participating in cooperative employment programs, internships and field experiences may not be eligible for financial aid unless they are enrolled at least half-time. Financial aid eligibility may be reduced for students who audit one or more classes during any semester.

Changes to Financial Aid Offers

Changes to financial aid can occur even after it has been offered, and aid can be retracted even after it has been posted to a student’s account. Students are notified whenever their financial aid offer is adjusted. Changes to offers may be necessary at any time during the academic year due to any or all of the following circumstances:

changes in enrollment level each semester
auditing a course
withdrawal from all classes
discontinued attendance in classes
corrections and updates to original application data
receipt of additional information affecting continued eligibility
changes in housing plans
changes in residency status
changes in student and/or family circumstances
receipt of additional assistance and/or scholarships

Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Services to discuss the impact on their financial aid eligibility before their status changes.

Financial Aid for Summer University

Summer University is considered to be the end of the University’s academic year. To be eligible for Summer University federal aid, students must have applied for federal financial aid for the previous year. Generally, financial aid is limited to Federal Pell Grant (if eligible) and/or any remaining Federal Direct Loan eligibility (subsidized and/or unsubsidized). Federal Work-Study may also be available, and requires a separate application that is available early in the spring semester and must be turned in prior to the deadline listed on the application. In addition, students who enrolled in fewer than in 30 credits during the Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters may have remaining merit available for the Summer.

Withdrawal from All Classes

If a student withdraws from the university after the semester begins, federal regulations stipulate that financial aid eligibility must be re-evaluated and prorated based on the portion of the semester the student completed. Eligibility for continued deferment of any prior loans is also affected. Any potential refund of tuition and fees from the University may be retained to repay financial aid programs before any reimbursement may be made to the student. In some cases, the student may be required to repay some or all financial aid funds previously disbursed to them. Students considering withdrawing from all classes must contact their academic area, who will coordinate with the Office of Student Financial Services to determine the impact of the withdrawal on financial aid. This policy is available on the Office of Student Financial Services website.

Institutional (Unofficial) Withdrawal

Federal regulations require the Office of Student Financial Services to determine the last date of attendance for an academic related activity for all students who discontinue class attendance. For those students who do not officially withdraw, the mid-point of the semester may be used as the official withdrawal date. Once a withdrawal date has been determined, charges and financial aid will be recalculated based on this date. Please be aware that as a result of this action financial aid funds may be adjusted and money may be owed to the University. You will be notified of any change. This policy is available on the Office of Student Financial Services website.

Special Circumstances and Appeals

Any special circumstances, such as changes in the student’s (or other family member’s) employment, loss of a benefit or other type of income, changes in marital status or unexpected/unusual costs should be brought to the attention of the Office of Student Financial Services.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients

Federal financial aid regulations require financial aid recipients to make progress toward earning their degree, stay above specific GPA minimums, and complete the degree within a maximum time-frame. You can lose eligibility for aid if you are not doing well in your classes, frequently withdraw from classes, if it is taking you a very long time to earn your degree. If you are not meeting the minimum standards, even if you are allowed by your academic dean to continue your enrollment, you will have to do so without the benefit of financial aid.

Progress is reviewed once each academic year, normally at the end of the spring semester. This review includes all attempted coursework, even if the student did not receive financial aid for some or all of that coursework. Students who are not meeting the minimum standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress are notified in writing via the MaineStreet Message Center of the loss of eligibility for further financial aid, effective the following enrollment period.

A copy of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available on the Office of Student Financial Services website at umaine.edu/stuaid/sap.

If you are not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, you can appeal if you believe that you have special circumstances that caused undue hardship. Appeals are considered by a committee. Please submit the SAP Undergraduate Appeal Form, along with appropriate supporting documentation to Secure Upload. Students approved for appeal will be placed on SAP Financial Aid Probation for the next enrollment term, are eligible for financial aid during that term and may be required to meet a specific academic plan.

If financial aid eligibility is suspended a student can request a review of their record after completing additional academic coursework.